Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-11
ACCIDENTS on rHE ALPS.
The Reeaiss.Dess or Tourists In
Making AsceDts.

4 Geneva correspondent OF the Lon
don Mare writes: The increasing
frequency OF accidents on the Alps and
the recklessness of tourists in making
accents without proper guides are call
ing forth remarks from experienced
mouniaineers. Youths aud young girls
find themselves in the vicinity Of
snowy peaks excited and invigorated by
the Keen air, and suppose that because
others have climbed to these high places,
and under ulfavorable circumstances
succeeded in making the ascent
safely, they can do the same.
Of they set, alpenstock and
Ratchet in hand, rugs strapped behind
them, and satchel containing pro
visions on the shoulders, and think they
have everything that can be wanted for
the excursion. But stout hearts and
agile limbs are not enough discretion
aud precaution are required in follow
ing Alpine paths, where danger turks
in unsupported forms. In many OF the
recent accidents death has surprised the
tourists on spots where no danger YVES
apprehended. NJ. Albert Sulzer, mem
Der of the Alpine club, making the pas
sage Of the Sanetsch, above Sion.
in a place that presents no diff
Guilty, tlipped-probably over the root
of a tree-and fell from the preclplce
into the bed of the Morges, whence the
body was recovered. A servant girl
from Coire assembled the Falkins with
four male companions, accomplished
the feat well, and was coming down in
high spirits, carrying punches OF rare
flowers. Some of the party were roped,
but the girl thought it would be sufli-
cient to hold the rope in her hand.
Passing a steep piece OF pasture land
where the grass was wet with recent
rains, her foot slipped, the cord es-
capcd from her hand, and she slid to-
wards the precipice. Two of the men
tried to save her, but they were
all three drawn into the abyss,
not. however, before one of them
had bad time to call to his remaining
companions :" Go quickly for help you
will probably find MS dead atthe foot of
the rocks :" In fact, they were found
there, two Of them dead, AMI the third
50 fearfuly mutilated that he died few
minutes afterwards. The case OF young
Bradley, who was lost early tnis month
in the Nalais, is another proof OF the
urrl that exists on mountain paths.
Taking an evening walk with his uncle,
Mr.. D'Auonier, and some other mem
bers OF the family, among the rocks and
pasturacos that he under the little vii
LACE Of Litie, on the side of the TRENT
opposite to the Ttte N0ire, Mr.. Bradley
thought ne might find & bettorpath than
the one bis party were following. lie
turned aside and has never been seen
or heard Of since, The probability is
that he followed the steep pasturo-hnd,
aniycd suddenly on the brink of the
precipice. fell, r bounded from lower
rocks, and finally the senseless body
plunged into the torrent OF the Triege,
where it still may be whirling in a pool,
TO lie recovered or traced by rem
nont Of clothing stuck on stone when
the weather becomes colder and the
glacier-fcd stream consequently less
deep. Two children from the village
Of linhaut, whore young Bradley was
staying with his uncle, have been lost
this summer, and it is supposed they
have met with the same fate.
The increasing popularity OF the
JungfrGu is inducing many noun
iaiuecrs to hazard their lives in climb
ing its heights unaccompanied by a
guide. Witness the catastrophe of last
month, when three young men were
> lost in a snow-stOrm. 1t has been pro-
posed to raise cabin on the summit of
the Jupgfrau for the assistance and ac-
commodation Of tourists; aud at first
sight this proposal seems practical and
humane. Certain persons, however,
well acquainted with the Al ps and their
dangers, and in particular Pastor Strss-
ser, of Grindeiwald, oppose the con
structiOn of q cabin on the following
grounds: If lovers OF high attitudes
know there is a shelter on the top OF
the Jungfrau, a place where refuge
may be taken and even a supply OF
food found, they will be the more
tempted to venture mp without guides
and in unsettled weather. The cabin
would become place of rendezvous,
where twenty or more persons would
sometimes meet. One of these sudden
snow-storms so common in the Ober-
land coming on the mountaineers, isO-
lated from the rest of the world, would
soon find their small stock OF provi
sions consumed, and then the horrors of
their fate would be terrible.